Systems and methods to perform data backup in data storage systems

Abstract

A data storage system, according to certain aspects, automatically backs up source data when the replication data is faulty. For instance, the system performs data backup using replication data rather than source data to reduce the processing load on the source system. The backup data is then associated with the source data as if the backup had been performed on the source data. If the replication system fails, then backing up replication data results in backup data that does not accurately reflect the source data. When permitted by the user system configuration, the system automatically backs up source data when replication has failed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of performing data back up in a data storage system, the method comprising:
 receiving instructions to back up source data stored in one or more primary storage devices associated with a client computing device, the source data being primary data generated by at least one software application executing on the client computing device and stored in a format of the at least one software application; 
 replicating the source data to one or more replication storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices to generate replication data, the replication data stored in the native format of the at least one software application, wherein the source data and the replication data are substantially synchronized with respect to one another; 
 based on a stored storage policy associated with the client computing device, initiating a backup operation in which a point in time backup copy of the primary data is to be created on one or more secondary storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices and the one or more replication storage devices; 
 automatically determining with one or more processors whether the replication data stored in the one or more replication storage devices is an accurate replication of the source data; 
 providing a notification that the replication data is faulty when the replication data is inaccurate; 
 consulting the stored storage policy to determine whether the stored storage policy permits back up from the source data when the replication data is inaccurate; 
 when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy permits back up from the source data, completing the backup operation by automatically copying with one or more processors the source data to the one or more secondary storage devices to create the point in time backup copy, the point in time backup copy stored in a backup format different than the native format for the at least one software application; and 
 associating the point in time backup copy with the source data. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising ending data back up without backing up the source data when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the stored storage policy is stored in a policies database. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising initiating a backup operation when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2  providing a job pending reason (JPR) for ending data back up without backing up the source data. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising initiating a backup operation when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data based at least in part on the JPR. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2  further comprising counting a number of times data back up ended without backing up the source data. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising initiating a backup operation when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data based at least in part on the number. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the notification is provided to a system administrator through a graphical user interface. 
     
     
       10. A system to create secondary copies of data associated with user computing devices, the system comprising:
 computer hardware including one or more computer processors; and 
 computer-readable storage comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer hardware to perform operations defined by the computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions configured to:
 receive instructions to back up source data stored in one or more primary storage devices associated with a client computing device, the source data being primary data generated by at least one software application executing on the client computing device and stored in a format of the at least one software application; 
 replicate the source data to one or more replication storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices to generate replication data, the replication data stored in the native format of the at least one software application, wherein the source data and the replication data are substantially synchronized with respect to one another; 
 based on a stored storage policy associated with the client computing device, initiate a backup operation in which a point in time backup copy of the primary data is to be created on one or more secondary storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices and the one or more replication storage devices; 
 automatically determine with one or more processors whether the replication data stored in the one or more replication storage devices is an accurate replication of the source data; 
 provide a notification that the replication data is faulty when the replication data is inaccurate; 
 consult the stored storage policy to determine whether the stored storage policy permits back up from the source data when the replication data is inaccurate; 
 when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy permits back up from the source data, complete the backup operation by automatically copying with one or more processors the source data to the one or more secondary storage devices to create the point in time backup copy, the point in time backup copy stored in a backup format different than the native format for the at least one software application; and 
 associate the point in time backup copy with the source data. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10  wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to end data back up without backing up the source data when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10  wherein the computer-readable storage further comprises a policies database configured to store the stored storage policy. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10  wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to initiate a backup operation when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to provide a job pending reason (JPR) for ending data back up without backing up the source data. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to initiate a backup operation when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data based at least in part on the JPR. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to count a number of times data back up ended without backing up the source data. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16  wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to initiate a backup operation when the replication data is inaccurate and the stored storage policy prohibits back up from the source data based at least in part on the number. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 10  wherein the notification is provided to a system administrator through a graphical user interface.